[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6463636,"mediaKeyId","5785227-11a151e6c4a6ca13e95f5b3a4c0a44a1","parentId",5785227,"title","Washtenaw County board adopts budget and policy items, approves brownfield plan and data-center guidance","audioSeconds",1287,"startMs",10905000,"endMs",12192000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785227-11a151e6c4a6ca13e95f5b3a4c0a44a1&start=10905&end=12192","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785227-11a151e6c4a6ca13e95f5b3a4c0a44a1/thumbnail_10905000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6463636/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Washtenaw-County-board-adopts-budget-and-policy-items-approves-brownfield-plan-and-data-center-guidance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463636-ba395f30e37b0eeac6799d5efac64375/orig.mp4?Expires=1773660206&Signature=U6Zo-Bk-cCldE0W2XpvIqfWifTXSC8wyB058AGy6aF~PczuWpWyk0W6fGvJcz74~XcRvVMbIhfuEcpyeuzgFrUfSZRLwsVDcWl-A2OCNS7AjilvLZnNDJXO-yh9SJN5JtP7AVnWz~Tg07FRKxqsbsTmK6hgVFNWx0psogDCbI9bWaTP9RtRFfiitEnhgAqxcZaQ4x8KlTI1XtfAuHqMy8PK4Z3Ah1foJbpNbpPsrciI6E8VMf3EEIisDvbI9huZEdH63EmNN~DeZ4WFysgeHuWA6diutuYDW8L9snaOfMMGxyCMMBR1NK-lshHVd8RAMhzsZJ7~PS-byQihT~G-0fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washtenaw County Government","date","2025-09-18T08:08:46Z","article","The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of budget and policy measures at its September meeting, including community mental health budget items, health-department agreements, opioid-settlement distributions and a brownfield amendment. Commissioners also approved a single-reading resolution directing staff to develop outreach materials and recommended disclosures for municipalities reviewing data-center proposals.

Notable outcomes recorded during the meeting include:

- Community Mental Health budgets and budget amendments (final reading): Approved. Commissioners passed a set of CMH budget resolutions on final reading that update program budgets and appropriate funds for operations.

- Health department comprehensive agreement (final reading): Approved. The board authorized the county administrator to sign the health department’s comprehensive agreement for the October-to-September state cycle.

- ARPA interest earnings appropriation (final reading): Approved. The board appropriated $1,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act interest earnings to designated uses.

- Broadway Park redevelopment brownfield plan amendment (final reading): Approved 9–1. The board adopted the brownfield amendment by roll call; Commissioner Ravi recorded a dissenting vote during final reading. Several commissioners and public commenters raised concerns about the scale of public funding and the responsible party for contamination during discussion.

- Opioid litigation settlements (final reading): Approved. The board approved settlement terms with generic manufacturers and with Purdue Pharma/Sackler family distributions, as recommended by corporation counsel.

- Data-center informational resolution (single reading): Approved (unanimous roll call). The board directed county staff to prepare informational outreach materials for municipalities and urged local governments to require developer disclosures on water use, energy sourcing, noise/vibration, emissions and community benefits.

- Emergency management and other single-reading items: Approved. The board authorized signature and acceptance of an emergency-management performance grant and several operational contracts as listed on the single-reading agenda.

Several consent and first-reading items also advanced without objection. No final action was taken on reopening pensions or retiree-health plans; staff were directed to obtain 2025 actuarial valuations and return with supplemental exhibits and scenarios.

Ending: Many of the approved items require follow-up implementation work by county departments; staff were given directions to return with draft materials (data centers), actuarial reports (pension/VEBA) and financial monitoring on the brownfield program.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washtenaw County Working Session & Board of Commissioners Meeting September 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its September meeting the board approved multiple final-reading and single-reading items including CMH budget actions, a brownfield plan amendment, opioid settlements, and a resolution directing staff to prepare data-center informational materials for municipalities; one commissioner voted against the Broadway Park brownfield amendment.","taxTitle","Washtenaw County, Michigan","taxId",2833,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":46,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6463641,"Residents press county to produce data center guidance; commissioners direct staff to prepare outreach materials",2913,9279000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785227-11a151e6c4a6ca13e95f5b3a4c0a44a1&start=9279&end=12192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785227-11a151e6c4a6ca13e95f5b3a4c0a44a1/thumbnail_9279000.jpg","/articles/6463641/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Residents-press-county-to-produce-data-center-guidance-commissioners-direct-staff-to-prepare-outreach-materials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463641-7bfd9e322a4cea6ef0f6fe3d6e45eac6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773660206&Signature=gnWjlSZd-JY7qtZ4s0rjpFf1q7IXvQZDVXlgQOg-N3CexNxAmF-1NW3yO2xN6Z2peSRB0yw1gCU9PssIWBn4r0cJaUgkiCemA4wKMT7e~0EQsvult1nEFn2zNUGM-yI87n-ZnE9gV6py678m3dbREEvFv1JAi5qrFX9uo9-aE2e5htSDJFgAZid5NsYHkRLU7HwC6h7Mw-S~tUPSZCesNu7DWrfuLtg3clgDLyOkoVPRPna2isfEeUtgfebL8Hl4Mt4HTyFa4zKYaEBgOB7nZDDcbXdrh63t00FW56ESBjePhR8dauRPE0s4oVA0i-MD0Hv2NWd~oBZJ6NVzsQLyww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of members of the public addressed the Board of Commissioners about proposed data centers, pressing the county to provide municipal partners with more information, oversight tools and model standards.

Speakers from Saline Township, Ypsilanti Township, Ann Arbor and other parts of Washtenaw County called the projects a threat to water, climate goals, electricity rates and local character. Commenters raised concerns about deep industrial well use near private wells, vibration and noise effects on wildlife, the long-term economic payoff to communities and nonprofit oversight of municipal approvals. Several speakers cited the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), DTE and state SOAR incentives when questioning promised local benefits.

Commissioner LaBarre moved a single-reading resolution directing county staff to develop outreach and informational materials on data centers for municipalities and recommending that local governments require detailed disclosures from developers (water use, energy sources, air emissions, noise/vibration, grid impacts, public transparency and community benefit provisions). The County’s resiliency office staff were not present for questions; several commissioners suggested follow-up briefings and said they supported giving local municipalities practical resources to review applications.

The board approved the resolution on a roll-call vote. Commissioners who spoke during the public discussion urged tighter local standards and recommended convening municipal officials to share best practices. Several public commenters and commissioners urged county support for independent third-party technical reviews and stronger municipal ordinances to evaluate proposed projects.

Ending: The board instructed staff to prepare educational materials for local governments outlining questions and data to request from data-center developers; commissioners also asked staff to brief the board later about potential county-level strategies to protect water, grid reliability and local land-use goals.","Public commenters from multiple townships urged the board to develop materials and oversight tools on data-center proposals; the board approved a resolution directing staff to assemble informational materials and urge municipalities to require specific assessments for proposals.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6463646,"Washtenaw County CFO outlines fiscal risks and options on reopening pensions and retiree health care",2219,3231000,5450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785227-11a151e6c4a6ca13e95f5b3a4c0a44a1&start=3231&end=5450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785227-11a151e6c4a6ca13e95f5b3a4c0a44a1/thumbnail_3231000.jpg","/articles/6463646/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Washtenaw-County-CFO-outlines-fiscal-risks-and-options-on-reopening-pensions-and-retiree-health-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463646-fa87db1015fc232a00041ca6976d2c6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773660206&Signature=mrK58a4FyvVI4F8SJSl7CwBqE3vEBjXPdBxfi4PVsis59M1tDrJUeq17MBIpLf~ABF-4QgaUvRgOPMmuBfP~FTSOkW8684EaJuKdyTsllVh5QnXF1AdqoDe34EmAdArHk-za4hvZ3d0vpXBClUQ0h8xryxWireSL~33qMLeRS2JJNk3tpIIk1pYm1z7HwCMrdSHuw0Yma606erG8MG8fgfDVXYLy9txfa0aK2oidf5p6Q22P5BW~lMJkBVODTmqZJfUpP4naqoYkb2bhe-0vkOfTRfvsO0Og8IX4g1x-xsGoLVXps1ARKW8-p7KTOBUij4FG7ii9PQ61UU3z2EuJ9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tina Gavalier, Washtenaw County chief financial officer, presented a comprehensive briefing on the county’s total compensation, the trajectory of fringe-benefit costs and the fiscal implications of reopening the county’s closed pension (WERS) and retiree health trust (VEBA).

Gavalier told commissioners that total compensation for the county’s budgeted 1,594 full-time-equivalent positions in 2025 was about $207.1 million, with 62% of that for wages and 38% for fringe benefits. She said fringe costs have risen faster than inflation over the last decade and identified active medical premiums, employer retirement contributions and retiree-health contributions as the largest cost drivers.

She highlighted the county’s statutory compliance options under Public Act 152 (the state hard-cap law) after Blue Cross Blue Shield submitted a 2026 renewal that exceeded the PA 152 hard cap by roughly $4.3 million. Gavalier presented three statutory options: (1) accept the cap and adjust plan design for employees, (2) set employee premium sharing equal to 20% (employer paying no more than 80%), or (3) seek an exemption and absorb the over-cap cost for the year. She said the board had used exemptions in prior years and that absorbing the full over-cap amount again would add several million dollars to the county budget.

On reopening retirement plans, Gavalier reviewed historical actuarial experience: the County’s defined-benefit pension plan (WERS) reopened in the 1990s and again around 2008, and the plan was closed at year-end 2013. She said actuarial reports show the pension funded ratio fell after prior reopenings and cautioned that reopening would reassign long-term risk to the employer. She noted the VEBA retiree-health trust fell from an overfunded position to about 93.5% funded after higher-than-expected claim experience and a $47.4 million actuarial increase in liabilities in the 2024 valuation; the county’s actuarially determined VEBA contribution more than doubled from 2025 to 2026 in the exhibits she presented.

Gavalier summarized national and state best-practice guidance (including MAPERS and Public Act 202 of 2017 recommendations): modernize benefit design before reopening, consider hybrid or tiered structures for new hires, adjust multipliers and retirement ages, and conduct experience studies before making changes. She recommended the board obtain the 2025 actuarial valuations and subsequent experience studies, explore modernized plan designs and require supplemental actuarial exhibits before any changes.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about trade-offs and implementation. Commissioner Somerville and others asked whether other jurisdictions offer employee choice between defined-benefit and defined-contribution plans; Gavalier said some systems offer choice but the actuary cautioned that splitting participation can raise unfunded liabilities. Commissioners pressed on the volatility of retiree-health costs and the impact on the county’s long-term fiscal picture. Several commissioners emphasized the need to balance recruitment/retention goals against budgetary sustainability and requested additional actuarial modeling and “what-if” scenarios.

Ending: The board did not vote to reopen pension or retiree-health plans. Gavalier recommended, and commissioners agreed, to obtain the 2025 actuarial valuations and experience studies and then return with supplemental exhibits and options for modernized plan designs and potential bargaining approaches.","CFO Tina Gavalier told commissioners that medical renewals and actuarial results have pushed retiree health and pension costs higher; staff recommended gathering updated 2025 actuarial evaluations and following best-practice plan design before any reopening decision.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6463651,"Rx Kids pitch seeks county support to bring monthly cash payments to Ypsilanti families",402,1309000,1711000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785227-11a151e6c4a6ca13e95f5b3a4c0a44a1&start=1309&end=1711","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785227-11a151e6c4a6ca13e95f5b3a4c0a44a1/thumbnail_1309000.jpg","/articles/6463651/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Rx-Kids-pitch-seeks-county-support-to-bring-monthly-cash-payments-to-Ypsilanti-families","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463651-dbb5dba26d7dfc05996871405d9ddffb/orig.mp4?Expires=1773660206&Signature=hZQzLGUzs9u18xOb~V38SBUeYnvZa~4uaVyNcU~ts-xLGt30M8hASUuevUSEoCQHjiPLuDycLrRmZiKKKBhyM9fi4GycjzGANx9~f2R8yvOsq2TzKXli-woy7Otr9Onv~5C79RHhQ7dfkoWt2EBZe4W0AkUFP3darwGQ2HqthtgKF0v~xX-sStt2jKfO3EJhAumwh0c4hM5-FKYS6bz3XlVc1lnCYiDRuonTs73ugPiWHfGX2JkL5VrQllmf0Bb5Cv2w9P1s8sEEdHUi9eOCFP9p-~XD6vF6XrWODdbXjt0hKsNizsfAjJqzzvrLa13uclQX28sX6oHs2ChL-~9qrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and associate dean for public health at Michigan State University, asked the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners to consider helping bring Rx Kids — a cash-transfer program for pregnant people and newborns — to Ypsilanti and other high-need parts of the county.

The program gives participating pregnant people $1,500 mid-pregnancy and then $500 per month for either six or 12 months after birth. Hanna said Rx Kids began in Flint in January 2024 and has since expanded to 11 Michigan communities with a mix of philanthropic support and a state TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) redirection. She said the state provided $16.5 million in FY2024 and $20 million more in FY2025 to expand the model.

Hanna told commissioners the program has produced measurable results in participating communities: improved housing stability and nutrition security, reductions in postpartum depression and parental stress, and population-level decreases in premature births, low birthweight and NICU admissions. She said more than $14 million has been disbursed directly to families to date and that local spending produced a multiplier effect that benefited small businesses.

Commissioners pressed Hanna on costs and geography. She said the program selects communities using vital-record birth-certificate data and the share of Medicaid births as an objective proxy for need. For Ypsilanti, she said the prenatal-plus-six-month model would cost about $650,000 per year; roughly $200,000 of that was already committed from state TANF redirection and local pledges, with a remaining gap of roughly $500,000 for a two-year launch. She said communities must provide or raise matching dollars to access the state reimbursement, and matches can flow to Michigan State University (the program fiduciary), GiveDirectly (the cash-transfer administrator) or a local community foundation depending on local preference.

Hanna said communities may be defined by municipality or ZIP code. She emphasized the program’s high take-up rate — near 100% in the communities she described — which she attributed to easy eligibility rules, outreach through prenatal clinics and a data-use agreement with state vital records so missed births can be followed up with a welcome packet.

Commissioners asked whether the county could pursue a countywide rollout rather than city-only pilots. Hanna said the program could expand countywide if matching dollars were available, but recommended starting in the highest-need pockets and phasing in additional communities. She also described ongoing conversations with federal and state partners about sustainability, including talks with CMS about drawing down health-care funds.

Several commissioners signaled support for a pilot in the Ypsilanti-area and asked county staff to follow up on budget implications and potential philanthropic matches.

Ending: Commissioners did not vote on a formal commitment at this working session; Hanna left materials with the board and said she would follow up with details and local funders. Several commissioners asked staff to return with cost scenarios and options for a countywide versus targeted pilot.","Dr. Mona Hanna, lead of the Rx Kids cash-transfer program, described outcomes from Flint and other Michigan sites and asked Washtenaw County commissioners to consider supporting a Ypsilanti launch that would pair state TANF redirection funds with local matching dollars.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Washtenaw County board adopts budget and policy items, approves brownfield plan and data-center guidance

Residents press county to produce data center guidance; commissioners direct staff to prepare outreach materials

Washtenaw County CFO outlines fiscal risks and options on reopening pensions and retiree health care

Rx Kids pitch seeks county support to bring monthly cash payments to Ypsilanti families